Getting to know: K.J. Ford

K.J. Ford seemed to save his best plays for the biggest moments last season.

Ford, a junior defensive tackle for the Bluffton High football team, recorded two of his four 2012 sacks in a first-round playoff game at South Florence. The part-time fullback also scored three of his four touchdowns in the postseason and had a season-high seven tackles in a quarterfinal game at nationally-ranked Goose Creek.

Those performances were enough for North Carolina State to give the 6-foot-1, 280-pound Ford his first scholarship offer in March. Ford, whose cousin Poona is a highly-coveted prospect at Hilton Head Island High, says he also is talking to coaches at Florida State.

With Bluffton getting ready to begin spring practice today, Bluffton Today caught up with Ford for a short question-and-answer session Monday.

Bluffton Today: What has the team been focusing on since the end of last season?

K.J. Ford: (Bluffton coach Ken Cribb) has made sure we get 60 lifts in by May 1, so we’ve really been working on that — making sure everybody stays really good in the weight room. That’s pretty much it right now.

BT: Was there anything you wanted to improve on before spring practice?

Ford: I want to get a lot faster and get my speed up. Actually, I’ll be running my 40 today.

BT: Will you approach this spring any differently now that you’re a rising senior and many of your teammates are graduating?

Ford: I feel like everybody’s going to be looking at me to step up and be that leader on our defense and make sure everything is how it should go.

BT: How much contact have you been having with N.C. State?

Ford: (Running backs coach Des Kitchings) came by this morning to see me. He wants me to come to a camp in June and he said he’ll be back next week in practice.

BT: What do you think of N.C. State so far?

Ford: The school is nice, really nice facilities. I really liked it.

BT: Are any other schools talking to you at the moment?

Ford: Florida State is recruiting me hard. I’m going to be there in June.

BT: Are there any schools you really hope give you a scholarship offer soon?

Ford: Pretty much just Florida State right now — and we’ll see if any more come.

Comments are welcome, so long as they are civil. A Facebook account is required. Abuse may result in the commenter being permanently blocked. Personal attacks are strictly prohibited. We reserve the right to remove any comments at any time.